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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Group strep B

7 replies

Tootiredorcare · 23/02/2023 01:18

Can some please shed some light on this for me please I went to my see my midwife who took some swabs as I wasn’t feeling the best. She contacts me two weeks later and tells me I had thrush which I expected and I also have strep B and will need antibiotics when I go into labour

questions….
why the hell have I never heard of this
how do you even catch it
how serious is this
can I pass this to onto anyone

OP posts:
Twoinapod · 23/02/2023 04:26

It’s pretty common from what I’ve seen, it’s also not routinely tested for in the uk and can come and go throughout your pregnancy. It’s normally harmless but can make babies poorly, although not commonly, but they give antibiotics as a precaution. It’s spread the same way most things are, but symptoms of it are rare. I’m sure something like up to just under half of all women carry it.

Irishgirl55 · 23/02/2023 11:03

I tested positive for it this pregnancy too. I had no symptoms and it was picked up in my urine @12 weeks - Tested the next week and it was gone. Was told that as soon as my waters break or my contractions are regular to go the hospital and I will be on antibiotics for at least 4 hours before I give birth.

I was told its fairly common for women to have it and it comes and goes throughout life/pregnancy. A small percentage or babies can get quite unwell from the infection but as PP said its not common and they will keep a close eye on baby after birth for signs, and provide antibiotics to baby if need be.

www.gbss.org.uk has some good information on it.

callmesophia · 23/02/2023 11:13

It's incredibly serious. Nearly lost my firstborn to it 13 years ago; it went undetected in pregnancy. When he was born, he was blue and unresponsive. Spent time in hospital on antibiotics. And all was well.

With my subsequent 2 children I had antibiotics in labour every 4 hours. I will have the same for this baby too.

callmesophia · 23/02/2023 11:16

Sorry, to answer your other questions: it naturally comes and goes in the vagina and is nothing to worry about under non pregnant circumstances. It can be caught/transferred through sex, and of course when baby is born can infect the baby.

Dueinjan23 · 23/02/2023 17:49

Hiya, it’s nothing to worry about now they know you have it. Just remind the midwives when you go in to have your baby. They will give you antibiotics every 4 hrs. If you don’t get the antibiotics they will keep you and baby in for a few days to monitor baby.

i have had it both times in my pregnancies x

Sparklesocks · 23/02/2023 19:33

Lots of women have it and know nothing about it because it’s so common and mostly harmless, it’s only an issue if the baby swallows fluid with GBS during labour which is why they give you antibiotics in labour.

I have it, they only picked it up because I had a urine infection around the time of my booking in appointment. They gave me antibiotics to treat the infection then and I got a sticker for my notes as a reminder that I’ll need the drugs when I’m in labour.

More info here if helpful:

www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-complications/group-b-strep-strep-b-and-pregnancy

Mamaoftwooo · 23/02/2023 21:36

I literally have just posted the same kind of thing, I’ve just tested positive for this and I’ve heard of it but didn’t really know what it was, been reading up on it and I’ve terrified myself 🫣 x

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